Temporary Graduate Visa — Post-Study Work Rights for International Graduates
Subclass 485 Visa – Temporary Graduate Visa Australia
Turn Your Australian Qualification Into Real Work Experience — The Post-Study Visa Built for International Graduates
You spent years studying in Australia. You earned a qualification from an Australian institution. Now you want to stay, gain real work experience, build your career, and potentially explore a longer-term future in Australia.
The Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate Visa is the visa that makes that next step possible. It is the official post-study work visa for international graduates who have completed a qualification at an Australian institution and want to remain in Australia to live and work after their studies are finished.
For many international graduates, the Subclass 485 is not just a visa — it is the bridge between completing a degree and building a genuine career pathway in Australia. The work experience gained on a Subclass 485 can open doors to employer sponsorship, points-tested skilled migration, and in some cases a genuine long-term future in Australia. At Migration Republic, our MARA-registered migration agents help international graduates navigate the Subclass 485 correctly.
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Current typical timeline
Primary applicant (2026)
Doctoral, regional study
From course completion notice
Visa Overview
What is the Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate Visa?
The Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate Visa is a temporary visa that allows international students who have recently graduated from an Australian institution to live, work, and study in Australia after their student visa ends. It is the primary post-study pathway for international graduates and one of the most important visas in Australia's overall migration framework.
The Subclass 485 gives graduates the time and the legal work rights to gain Australian work experience — one of the most valuable assets in any future skilled migration application. The visa has two main streams — the Graduate Work Stream and the Post-Study Work Stream — each with different eligibility requirements and different stay periods. A third option, the Second Post-Study Work Stream, provides an additional period of work rights for eligible graduates in certain fields.
Key Features of the Subclass 485 Visa
- Temporary post-study work visa for recent international graduates of Australian institutions
- Two primary streams — Graduate Work Stream and Post-Study Work Stream
- Second Post-Study Work Stream available for eligible graduates in priority fields
- Full work rights in Australia — no hour restrictions, work for any employer
- Stay period ranges from 18 months to 6 years depending on stream and study location
- Must apply within six months of being notified you have completed your qualifying qualification
- No employer sponsorship required — you can work for any employer in any role
- Spouse or de facto partner may be eligible to work in Australia as a secondary applicant
- Bridging Visa A granted if current student visa expires during processing
Visa Streams and Eligibility
Who Can Apply — The Three Streams of the Subclass 485
Eligibility for the Subclass 485 depends on which stream you are applying under. The two primary streams have different qualification and occupation requirements.
Graduate Work Stream
For graduates whose qualification is directly related to an occupation on a relevant skilled occupation list and who have had a skills assessment completed. Granted for 18 months. Most relevant for trade and vocational fields where a formal skills assessment is required.
Post-Study Work Stream
The more commonly used stream for university graduates. Does not require a skills assessment — based on the level and location of your qualification. Covers Bachelor, Honours, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Masters, and Doctoral degrees. Stay period ranges from 2 to 6 years.
Second Post-Study Work Stream
Provides an additional 2 years of post-study work rights for eligible graduates who have already held a Post-Study Work Stream Subclass 485 and have qualifications in specific priority fields — including healthcare, education, and information technology.
Stay Periods
Subclass 485 Stay Periods — How Long Can You Stay?
The stay period granted under the Subclass 485 depends on your stream and, for the Post-Study Work Stream, on the level of your qualification and where you completed your studies.
Post-Study Work Stream — Major City Study
| Qualification Level | Stay Period |
|---|---|
| Bachelor or Honours degree | 2 years |
| Graduate Certificate or Diploma | 2 years |
| Masters degree | 3 years |
| Doctoral degree | 4 years |
Post-Study Work Stream — Regional Study (Bonus)
| Qualification Level | Stay Period |
|---|---|
| Bachelor or Honours degree | 4 years |
| Graduate Certificate or Diploma | 4 years |
| Masters degree | 5 years |
| Doctoral degree | 6 years |
Visa Benefits
Key Benefits of the Subclass 485 Visa
Unrestricted Work Rights
Unlike the Subclass 500 Student Visa which limits work to 48 hours per fortnight during study sessions, the Subclass 485 provides full, unrestricted work rights. You can work full-time for any employer in any occupation. This freedom is the foundation of what makes the Subclass 485 so valuable for career development.
Australian Work Experience — Your Most Valuable Migration Asset
Australian employers consistently value Australian work experience. The Subclass 485 gives you the time to accumulate that experience — to build a professional network, establish a career track record, and demonstrate your capability in an Australian workplace. For any future employer-sponsored or points-tested visa application, this experience is enormously valuable.
Points for Skilled Migration
If you are considering the points-tested General Skilled Migration pathway — the Subclass 189 or Subclass 190 — Australian work experience earned on a Subclass 485 earns points in the points test. Many graduates use the Subclass 485 period strategically to build their points score toward a competitive Expression of Interest.
No Employer Sponsorship Required
The Subclass 485 is not tied to a specific employer. You can change jobs, change industries, take on different roles, and explore your career options freely. This flexibility is a significant advantage compared to employer-sponsored work visas where your visa is tied to a specific employer and role.
Family Inclusion — Partner Work Rights
Your spouse or de facto partner and dependent children can generally accompany you to Australia as secondary applicants. Your partner is typically entitled to full work rights in Australia as well, which can be a significant financial benefit for families transitioning from student life to professional life in Australia.
Regional Study Bonus — Up to Six Years
Graduates who studied in regional Australia are eligible for additional time on their Subclass 485 compared to graduates who studied in major cities. A doctoral graduate who studied regionally can receive up to six years — six years of unrestricted work rights to build their career and migration pathway.
Document Checklist
What Documents Do You Need for the Subclass 485?
The Subclass 485 application requires careful documentation across several areas. Missing or insufficient documentation is a common cause of delays — and given the six-month application window from course completion, delays matter.
Qualification and Study Evidence
- Official academic transcripts from your Australian institution
- Official letter from your institution confirming completion of your qualification and the date you were notified that you met your course requirements — this date triggers your six-month application window
- Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) records from your student visa period
- Evidence that your qualification was completed at a CRICOS-registered institution
- Evidence that you held a valid student visa for the qualifying period of your study in Australia
English Language Evidence
- Evidence of English language proficiency — IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced, or OET results
- Minimum competent English is required — generally IELTS 6.0 in each band or equivalent
- Some exemptions apply based on passport country or prior English-medium study
Graduate Work Stream Only
- Completed skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for your nominated occupation
- Evidence that your qualification is directly related to your nominated occupation
Common Requirements — All Streams
- Valid passport with at least 12 months validity beyond the date of application
- Health examination results from an approved panel physician
- Police clearance certificates for all countries where you have lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years
- For secondary applicants: passport and identity documents, relationship evidence, birth certificates for children, health and character documents
Costs and Processing Times
Subclass 485 Visa Cost and Processing Times
Visa Costs (2026)
- Base visa application charge — AUD $1,895 for the primary applicant
- Secondary applicants aged 18 or over — AUD $1,895 each
- Secondary applicants under 18 — AUD $475 each
- Health examination — approximately AUD $300 to $450
- Chest X-ray — approximately AUD $100 to $150 where required
- Police clearances — typically AUD $50 to $150 per country
- Skills assessment fee (Graduate Work Stream) — typically AUD $300 to $800
- Total costs for a single applicant typically range from AUD $2,500 to $4,500
Processing Times (2026)
- 75% of applications are processed within 4 to 9 months
- 90% of applications are processed within 10 to 14 months
- If you lodge before your student visa expires, a Bridging Visa A is automatically granted — maintaining full work rights during processing
- Completing health examinations before lodgement significantly reduces processing time
- Applications with missing documentation at lodgement take significantly longer
How We Help
Our Visa Process
Eligibility Assessment and Stream Identification
We review your study history, your qualification, your institution, and where you studied to identify which Subclass 485 stream applies — Graduate Work Stream, Post-Study Work Stream, or the Second Post-Study Work Stream. We confirm your eligibility and your application window, and assess your English language results.
Skills Assessment Coordination — Graduate Work Stream
For Graduate Work Stream applicants, we manage the skills assessment process — identifying the correct assessing authority, preparing the skills assessment application, and ensuring the assessment is completed and in order before the visa application is lodged. Delays in skills assessment are a common bottleneck, and we work to avoid them through early planning.
Document Preparation and Health Examination Coordination
We prepare a complete personalised document checklist and coordinate health examination appointments with approved panel physicians to ensure results are completed and linked to your application before lodgement — one of the most important steps in reducing processing time.
Visa Application Lodgement
We prepare and lodge your Subclass 485 application with the Department of Home Affairs, managing all technical requirements of the online lodgement process. We ensure your Bridging Visa is properly in place if your student visa is expiring, and handle all communication with the Department from lodgement forward.
Active Monitoring Through to Grant
We monitor your application actively throughout the processing period. If the Department issues any requests for additional information, we respond promptly and thoroughly. We keep you updated at every stage and manage the process through to the day your Subclass 485 is granted.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Migration Republic
Why Choose Migration Republic?
The Subclass 485 is one of the most important visa applications an international graduate will ever lodge — not just because of what the visa itself provides, but because of what the visa period enables. The decisions made during the Subclass 485 period, the work experience accumulated, and the migration planning undertaken can shape a graduate's entire long-term future in Australia.
Missing the six-month application window is not recoverable. Lodging with incomplete health documentation adds months to processing time. Applying under the wrong stream or misunderstanding the regional study bonus can cost you years of additional stay period. Getting the application right matters.
Stream and Stay Period Expertise
We understand the nuances of the Graduate Work Stream and Post-Study Work Stream. We ensure you are in the right stream, receiving the maximum stay period your qualification and study location entitles you to, and are not leaving years of post-study work rights on the table.
Health Examination Coordination
We coordinate health examination appointments with approved panel physicians to ensure results are completed and linked to your application before lodgement — one of the single most effective ways to reduce the 4 to 9 month processing time.
Long-Term Migration Planning
We help graduates think not just about the visa application in front of them, but about where they want to be in two, three, and five years — mapping out how the Subclass 485 period can best be used to build toward employer sponsorship, General Skilled Migration, or other permanent pathways.
Ready to Apply for Your Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate Visa?
You worked hard for your Australian qualification. The Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate Visa is what comes next — the visa that lets you stay, work, build your career, and explore your future in Australia. The right stream, the right documentation, health examinations completed early, and the application lodged well within your six-month window. That is what we do. Book a free consultation today and let us help you navigate your Subclass 485 application with confidence.
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